Boracay has been named as this year's world's best island getaway by an international travel magazine.
Discovery Shores in Boracay was also named best hotel spa in Asia by "Travel + Leisure" magazine's 2012 World's Best Awards.
The magazine's editor, Nilou Motamed, made the announcement Friday on the "Today" daily American morning television show that airs on NBC.
Boracay, which placed 4th in the same awards last year, garnered 93.10 points to take the top spot this year.
Travel + Leisure's top 10 island destinations in 2012, based on a survey of readers are:
- Boracay, Philippines - 93.10
- Bali - 90.41
- Galápagos - 89.55
- Maui - 89.53
- Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia - 89.28
- Santorini, Greece - 89.20
- Kauai - 89.09
- Big Island, Hawaii - 87.95
- Sicily, Italy - 87.87
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia - 87.48
"The world's best island, I confess to never having heard of it in the Philippines," "Today" host Willie Geist said.
"This is important, Boracay. It beat out Bali, number 2. It's one of those islands you should know about if you're interested in culture and value," Motamed told Geist.
"Our readers love this, it's not been on anyone's radar. It's in the Philippines. This is the place that you're gonna get not only hotels that you can stay for $50 a night but incredible hotels like the Shangri-la," she added.
Boracay's Discovery Shores also secured top honors for being the best hotel spa in Asia this year, the magazine said.
Aside from Boracay and Discovery Suites, the winners in other categories in 2012 are:
- Bangkok - World's best city
- Singita Grumeti Reserves - World's best hotel
- Crystal Cruises - World's best large ship cruise line
- Seabourn - World's best small ship cruise line
- Viking River Cruises - World's best river cruise line
- Singapore Airlines - World's best international airline
- Virgin America - World's best domestic airline
- Micato Safaris - World's best safari outfitter
- Row Adventures - World's best tour operator
- Hertz - World's best car rental agency
- Red Mountain Resort - World's best destination spa
- Capella Pedregal - World's best hotel spa.
"Even after 17 years, the opportunity to see what travel experiences resonate with our readers still intrigues and delights me. While some passions change over time, the allure of the exotic and the new remains as strong as ever, as does the attraction to trips that provide distinctive and long-lasting memories," "Travel + Leisure" editor-in-chief Nancy Novogrod said in a press statement.
The full results of the 17th annual "Travel + Leisure" World's Best Awards survey revealing readers' favorite hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, car rental agencies, spas, safari outfitters, and tour operators are listed on www.TravelandLeisure.com and will be featured in the magazine's August digital editions and its August print issue that will hit US newsstands on July 20 2012.
The 2012 World's Best Awards winners will be honored at a ceremony on July 19, 2012 that will be hosted by Novogrod and the magazine's vice-president and publisher, Jean-Paul Kyrillos, at the newly opened Conrad New York.
ABS-CBN
Written by Makisig Bayani
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